Connector structure for taillights



March 2 7, 1951 J. c. LAIZURE 2,546,226 CONNECTOR STRUCTURE FOR TAILLIGHTS Filed July 9, 1946 ky' a. 36

INVFIYTOR. ame; ala/za/"e Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATE NT FF 1 CE 2,546,226 oonuacron STRUCTURE FOR mmmcnrs James C. Laizure, Brawley, Califa Application July 9'; 1946, Serial'No. 682,172

fiolaiimsa (Cl. 173-328.)

My invention relates to el'ectric lights and'm'ore particularly to tail-lightsforautomobiles; trucks, trailers and the like.

' The object of'my' invention'ist'o provide-stair light adapted to be removedeasily when not in use; so that it can 'be carried ina' safe way; until it is needed-, and which can be also-easily replaced.

Other objects of my invention may appearin the following specification describing my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

It is however to be understood that my'inven tion is not toabe limited andrestrictedito' the exact construction and combination ofparts described in the specification and shown in the Figure? 3 is an end view of Figure 1, thetbracket being omitted; and" Figure 4' isa sectional vie'wtakeri on 1lne'=4--4 in Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing the tail light according to my invention has a metal tube I0, the rear end of which is provided with an outward thread II. In the forward end of this tube a fiber insulation sleeve I 2 is arranged having two bayonet slots |3 therein. An electric bulb I4 is equipped with two lugs l5 adapted to be inserted into the bayonet slots, to removably secure the electric bulb M in the insulation sleeve l2 and to contact the metal tube 0.

A reflector I6 is is rigidly mounted on the metal tube NJ at a distance from the forward end of the tube. An annular fiber gasket I1 is located on the edge of the reflector l6 and a glass globe [8 has an outwardly extending circumferential flange l9on its rear edge, with which it abuts the gasket IT. A clamp ring has an inwardly extending flange 2| on its forward end. It fits snugly onto the front end of the reflector l6 and is secured thereon by means of a plurality of screws 22, so that the flange 2| on the clamp ring 20 urges the flange 9 on the globe l8 firmly against the gasket H.

A fiber plug 23 fits snugly into the metal tube l0 and is provided with an axially extending bore, in which an electric wire 24 is arranged. A contact fixture'25 is attached to'the front end of the wire 24 and abuts the front end of the'fiber plug 23. The rear contact 26 of'theelectric bulb l4 contacts the frontfi'xture 25, when the bulb is:

located in the insulation sleeve 2. a An outer metal tube21 has an inner thread 28 in its forward portion, which isadapted to engage the outside thread I I on the inner metal tube Ill.

The rear end of the outer metal tube 21' is closed by means of a metal plug 29, preferably made from brass, having a centrally'lo'cated hole 30' therein.

An elastic rubber plug 3| is arranged ingth'e. outenmeta'l'tube 2T and abuts the metal plug A second fiber'plug 32 islocated slidably in. the outer metal tube 21. The second" fiber plug 32 and the rubber plug 3| are provided each with an" axially extending bore, and an insulated electric wire 33 extends through the hole 30 in the metal plug29 and thebores'of the rubber plug 3| and the second fiber: plug 32.-

On the rear end of the electric wire 24 in the first fiber plug 23 anotherconta'ct' member 34' is fastened and abuts the rear end of' the first fiber'plug'23. On thefront'end of the insulated wire 33 a third contact member 35 is attached abutting" the front end of' the sliding fiber plug 32. The insulated electric wire 33 leads to a source of electricity (not shown). To protect the insulation of this wire against wear, the lip of the hole 30 in the metal plug 29 is rounded as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The outer metal tube 21 can be rigidly mounted on a suitable bracket 36 of any desired form, for instance by welding, and this bracket can, in turn, be attached permanently or removably to the rear end of the vehicle (not shown) to be equipped with the tail light according to my invention.

The front portion of the light, consisting of the assembled inner metal tube Ill, first fiber plug 23, electric wire 24, contact members 25 and 34, insulation sleeve l2, electric bulb I4, reflector l6, gasket glass globe 8 and clamp ring 20, can be kept in a safe place until it is to be used. It is then inserted in the socket formed by the outer metal tube 21.

The inner metal tube is screwed into the outer one until the contact members 34 and 35 are in firm contact with each other and the sliding fiber plug 32 is forced rearwardly against the rubber plug 3|, so that the latter is compressed and, in consequence, acts as a spring means urging the sliding plug forwardly. In this manner a double c 3 result is obtained. The pressure of the rubber plug secures the contact members 34 and 35 in close contact with each other and prevents accidental loosening of the threaded connection between the two metal tubes.

The glass globe I8 is colored red to protect the vehicle, to which it is attached, against accidents, caused by automobiles or the like catching up with said vehicle.

It is however to be understood, that the glass globe 18 can be made in any other desired color besides red, when the light is to be used not as a tail light, but as a side or clearance light.

Having described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a connector structure, a first metal tube having an open end and a closed end, a first relatively incompressible insulated plug in said first tube and slidable endwise therein, a first wire leading into said first tube at a point adjacent to the closed end thereof and extending longitudinally through said first plug, a first contact on the end of said first plug remote from the closed end of said first tube with which said first wire is connected, a second metal tube open at its opposite ends, an insulated member extendin frictionally in said second tube, said insulated member being spaced at one end from an adjacent end of said second tube with its opposite end projecting beyond the other end of said second tube, a socket on the said adjacent end of said second tube with which said one end of said insulated member can engage, said adjacent end of said insulated member having a second contact thereon, a third contact on the said opposite end of said insulated member, a second wire extending through said insulated member and connecting said second and third contacts to-gether,

said first and second tubes being axially aligned with the open end of said first tube threadably connected to the said other end of the second tube, and a solid resilient and compressible plug confined in said first tube between its closed end and the rear end of said first plug.

2. In a connector structure, a first metal tube having an open threaded end and a closed end, a' first incompressible insulated plug. slidable endwise in said first tube having a firstjcontact on 4 the end thereof adjacent to the open end of said first tube, a first wire leading through said first plug to said first contact from the opposite end of said first plug, a second metal tube open at both ends thereof, one end of said second metal tube being threaded in the open end of said first tube, a socket on the opposite end of said second tube, a second incompressible insulated plug frictionally extending endwise through said second tube, said second plug having an end eng'ageable with said socket having a second contact thereon, said second plug having another end projecting beyond the said one end of said second tubeand having a third contact thereon, a second wire extending endwise through said second plug and connecting said second and third contacts, said third contact being arranged to engage said first contact when said second tube is threaded into said first tube, and a third plug consisting of a solid compressible body confined in said first tube between its closed end and the rear end of said firstplug, said third plug being arranged to be compressed by threading of said second tube into said first tube and thereby tensioned to maintain engagement between said first and third contacts and between said second contact and the related contact of an element engaged in said socket.

JAMES C. LAIZURE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

